At least 22 dead in Colombia earthquake

At least 22 killed in magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia's Choco province

BOGOTÁ — A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 22 people, damaging or collapsing buildings across several cities and leaving residents trapped beneath rubble as emergency crews mounted rescue operations.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake, centered near San José del Palmar in the Pacific-coast department of Chocó, sent powerful tremors through large parts of Colombia and was felt across the border in Venezuela. The Colombian Geological Service initially gave a lower magnitude before revising it upward. The quake struck deep underground, with authorities continuing to assess the extent of the destruction.

Pereira, a major city in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas, with 18 deaths reported there, according to the latest Reuters update. Fatalities were also reported in Manizales and Buenaventura. Rescue workers continued searching damaged structures as authorities warned that the casualty figures could change as assessments reach more affected communities.

In Cali, one of Colombia’s largest cities, Mayor Alejandro Eder said preliminary reports indicated that more than a dozen structures had collapsed, with people trapped inside. He said the city had requested disaster-response teams from Bogotá and Medellín to reinforce local rescue operations.

The scale of the emergency stretched well beyond Cali. In Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said people had been killed, while damage was reported to buildings in the city. Parts of the city’s neo-Gothic cathedral were also affected by the shaking.

In Chocó, Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba reported injuries and significant damage in Quibdó, the department’s capital, and urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks.

Neighboring Risaralda was also badly affected. Pereira reported serious structural damage, while emergency authorities worked to inspect buildings and determine which areas remained safe for residents.

The earthquake disrupted air travel across western Colombia, with operations suspended at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura while inspectors checked runways, terminals and other infrastructure for possible structural damage.

At least 22 killed in magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia's Choco province

Colombia’s disaster authorities said reports of the earthquake had come from nine departments and all 32 departmental capitals, prompting evacuations and preliminary damage assessments across the country. The tremor was also felt in parts of Venezuela, including Táchira state and Barquisimeto.

Despite the strength of the earthquake, the U.S. tsunami warning system reported no tsunami threat. Authorities nevertheless remained on alert for aftershocks as rescue and damage-assessment operations continued.

The disaster comes weeks after deadly earthquakes struck Venezuela in June, adding to concerns across the region as emergency agencies continue to deal with the consequences of major seismic events.

With rescue teams still entering damaged areas and authorities conducting structural inspections, Colombia’s death toll and damage assessment remain subject to revision.